After repeating it to herself several times, Bai Li Ziyun calmed down considerably, but still dared not look at Shen Xiaoyan.
When Shen Xiaoyan's gaze fell upon her, she would instinctively lower her head.
Seeing her like this, Shen Xiaoyan showed no outward expression.
However, she was incredibly happy in her heart. It was no easy feat to make Bai Li Ziyun behave so obediently.
She just hoped that her obedience was not merely superficial, and that she wouldn't revert to her old self after a short while.
Even if she did revert to her old self, Shen Xiaoyan wouldn't mind.
If others courted death, she couldn't stop them, could she?
Including those sitting and standing, there were quite a few people in the room, yet no one spoke.
As the silence stretched on, the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
Naturally, it wasn't Shen Xiaoyan and the others who felt the awkwardness, but Grand Princess Zande and Bai Li Ziyun.
Grand Princess Zande had been waiting for Shen Xiaoyan and the others to speak first.
Whether it was a greeting or a taunt.
In short, as long as Shen Xiaoyan spoke first, she could steer the conversation, and surely achieve her purpose for the day.
But after sitting for nearly an hour, the room remained silent.
Seeing that Shen Xiaoyan and the others still showed no intention of speaking, Grand Princess Zande could wait no longer.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others didn't mind, but she had an imperial decree to fulfill and couldn't afford to waste time like this.
"Shen Xiaoyan, I won't waste words with you. I didn't come here of my own volition."
Shen Xiaoyan rolled her eyes and said, "Naturally, I know. If you still wanted to come here, you'd truly be asking for trouble."
The words Grand Princess Zande had painstakingly organized were stifled by Shen Xiaoyan.
This Shen Xiaoyan was becoming more and more sharp-tongued.
No, calling her that was actually a compliment.
Her way of speaking was truly infuriating.
Grand Princess Zande's chest heaved a few times before she spoke again, "I am here on imperial command to provide disaster relief."
Shen Xiaoyan raised an eyebrow. Grand Princess Zande to provide disaster relief?
Perhaps sensing Shen Xiaoyan's disbelief, Grand Princess Zande sat up and said, "That's right, I am here to provide disaster relief."
"The distance from the Imperial Capital to here is too great, and with this heavy snow, the roads are all blocked. To send relief personnel from the Imperial Capital would take over a month just on the journey."
"The people in the imperial court can wait; they don't mind trouble."
"But what about us commoners in the disaster-stricken areas? If we really wait for a month, by then, the people from the imperial court might only be here to collect corpses."
Hearing Grand Princess Zande speak like this, Shen Xiaoyan and the others' gazes towards her shifted slightly.
Were these words truly from Grand Princess Zande's own heart?
Grand Princess Zande also noticed the way they looked at her and felt a slight awkwardness. "Why are you looking at me like that? These are my sincere words. I am, after all, a princess of Great Chu. If the common people of Great Chu are suffering, how can I just stand by?"
"Speak your mind."
Shen Xiaoyan gave Grand Princess Zande only four words.
Regardless of whether these words were from Grand Princess Zande's heart or not, they didn't have time to sit here and listen to her grand pronouncements.
"I won't speak more nonsense. I heard upon my arrival today that you started disaster relief yesterday and the day before? And you did so under the name of the Retired Emperor, is that correct?"
Hearing her question, Sima Han replied calmly, "And if so?"
"So you admit it? I thought others were wrongly accusing you, but I never expected it to be true. Ah Han, you've truly disappointed me."
Grand Princess Zande said with heartbreak, her gaze towards Sima Han filled with disappointment and anger.
After waiting for a while and seeing no sign of Sima Han apologizing, Grand Princess Zande had to continue.
"Have you considered that although the Retired Emperor is still alive, there is now a new Emperor? A snow disaster has occurred, and the Emperor's relief troops have not yet arrived. You, however, have taken it upon yourselves to use the Retired Emperor's banner to provide relief to the people. What will the people think?"
"What will they think? The people are immensely grateful to us," Shen Xiaoyan said with a smile.
"The people are grateful to you, but what will they think of the Emperor in their hearts? If the Emperor knew, how would he feel?"
"Even if the Retired Emperor knew, he would likely blame you."
Sima Han looked at Grand Princess Zande and asked curiously, "Why is that?"
Grand Princess Zande sighed, "How can you be so foolish, Ah Han? You should have grown up by now."
"The relationship between the Retired Emperor and the Emperor was already strained. By doing this, aren't you poking at the Emperor's heart? This will only worsen the relationship between the Emperor and the Retired Emperor. How could the Retired Emperor be happy?"
If Yi Zixie hadn't spoken those words earlier, they might have truly believed Grand Princess Zande now.
After all, no matter what, she was the Retired Emperor's own sister and the Emperor's paternal aunt.
Her words naturally carried weight.
Unfortunately, Yi Zixie had already revealed the Retired Emperor's plan.
Even if Grand Princess Zande spoke until she was blue in the face today, Shen Xiaoyan and the others would only respond with a "Heh heh."
After Grand Princess Zande finished speaking, she remained silent, waiting for Sima Han to apologize and seek a solution.
Because she believed that, no matter what, Sima Han would absolutely not dare to defy the Emperor's royal authority.
Even if he was powerful on his own.
He still couldn't stand against an army of thousands.
Moreover, it wasn't like the time he was banished from the Imperial Capital before.
At that time, there was only Yue Qingxin, whom he could protect.
Yue Qingxin was willing, and more importantly, she was willing to suffer with him.
But now, he had a child.
A child less than a year old. It was impossible for him to escape with the child.
"This was the Retired Emperor's arrangement. Does the Princess not know?"
"What did you say?"
Grand Princess Zande was smug, waiting for Sima Han to bow his head and admit his mistake.
But who knew that Sima Han would suddenly utter such a sentence.
Grand Princess Zande looked at Sima Han in disbelief, seeing him looking at her with a strange, probing gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Sima Han hesitated for a moment before saying, "What you just said made sense. How could you not know this was the Retired Emperor's intention?"
Grand Princess Zande was rendered speechless by Sima Han's words.
However, she quickly recovered.
"You haven't been to the Imperial Capital in years, and you've had no opportunity to communicate with the Retired Emperor. How could this possibly be the Retired Emperor's intention?"
Hearing this, Sima Han smiled gently, "Princess, you truly live up to being the Emperor's paternal aunt. It seems you've been keeping tabs on my actions all along."
Sima Han's words left Grand Princess Zande momentarily speechless, unsure of what to say.
"I merely care about you, worried that you might do something foolish. And look, you're starting to do foolish things now."
"While I may not have the means to contact the Retired Emperor in the deep palace of the Imperial Capital, there is someone who does."
"Who?"
Grand Princess Zande felt her previously settled heart rise again.
How could she have forgotten this?
Exactly, through whom did Sima Han contact the Retired Emperor?
And how could this person have brought back the Retired Emperor's intentions so quickly in this weather?
Seeing Grand Princess Zande frown in thought, a flicker of mockery flashed in Sima Han's eyes.
"Princess, you don't need to think."
Hearing this, Grand Princess Zande looked at Sima Han curiously. Had he been talking nonsense just now?
"The person who contacted the Retired Emperor is sitting right in front of you. Why are you racking your brain?"
After Sima Han finished speaking, he looked at Yi Zixie, who was sitting directly opposite Grand Princess Zande.
Grand Princess Zande followed Yi Zixie's gaze and looked at him.
When she saw Yi Zixie, who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old with a handsome appearance, she first widened her eyes in surprise, and then burst into laughter.
Seeing her reaction, Sima Han and the others remained expressionless, simply watching her.